Oct 2 Voting 101: How to Vote for the First Time

Voting for the first time can feel daunting. Especially if you are away from home at college. Despite being one of the largest voting blocks, in 2016, only 46% of 18-29 year olds voted. Fewer than any other demographic group. Many of my students were among those who did not vote. Not because they didn’t care, but because they didn’t really know how.

They missed the opportunity to get registered. They didn’t understand where their voting location was. They didn’t have the right ID. They felt nervous. They didn’t want to make an uninformed choice. They didn’t like their options. Or maybe they didn’t feel like their vote counted anyway.

The good news is that voting is just another bureaucratic system to navigate. If you can figure out the procedures required to register for classes you, you can figure out the procedures required to vote.

This week, Political Science Professor, Dr. Brian Smith is on the show to walk you through how to vote step-by-step. He explains how to know if you’re registered, how to get registered, how to know where to vote, how to become an educated voter, how to vote by mail, when to submit a provisional ballot, and why your vote matters.

Remember you have the power to create a better college experience and world.